Morgan has breathed life into Nationals

Pirates/MLB Videos

WASHINGTON — The Nationals are the hottest team in baseball, as incredible as that sounds. There are as many theories as to how they've pulled this off as there are fans at Nats Park. More, perhaps.

My theory: Nyjer Morgan.

A lot of guys are contributing, no doubt. As a team, the Nats' hitting has been streaky all season, and they happen to be in a hot streak at a time when the young starters are settling down and the bullpen has improved. Then there is the managerial change, the trades and Adam Dunn's move to first base, which has been a pleasant surprise so far.

But I think it all began June 30, when the Nats acquired Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett from the Pirates. Or rather, on July 3, when Morgan made his first start for the Nats. Pre-Morgan, the Nats were 21st in the majors in runs scored. Since Morgan's arrival, they're third. Their on-base percentage has increased 18 points. They were 23-54 when he arrived. They are 17-18 since.

In fact, the only question is whether Morgan's biggest contribution has come as the leadoff hitter, or the center fielder. The answer: yes.

"The leadoff position is a real challenge," interim manager Jim Riggleman said recently. "It takes a special guy to handle that role and get on base and make the other pitcher work and give information to the other players about what the guy is throwing, and at the same time, cause havoc to the other team. He's given us all that, but as much or more than that, he's given us a guy in center field who can really go get the ball. ... He's really played a great center field, he's been pretty special out there. Balls have been hit off the bat that we've said in the dugout, 'No way he's getting to that'; he's tracked them down, so that's been huge."

To say Mike Rizzo is happy about the biggest deal of his brief tenure as interim general manager would be an understatement.

"It's made a huge difference in the attitude of the club, the energy level of the club and the attitude in the clubhouse," he said. "Beyond that, though, the actual baseball side of it, it was a good fit for our club.

"We'd been looking for a true, prototypical leadoff man that can play center field and in a perfect world would hit left-handed. He checked all the boxes off for that. He's a plus-plus base stealer and a really good guy in the clubhouse. It was everything that we dreamt it could be."

After falling in love with hockey after watching the U.S. hockey team at the Calgary Games when he was 7, Morgan made a go of it on the ice for four years before finding a place with the Pirates' minor-league system. Morgan denies being a late bloomer or ever feeling "behind" his teammates who devoted all their time to baseball.

"It wasn't my time," he shrugs. "I can play. I can play this game. I'm a natural ballplayer. No coulda-shoulda about it. My time wasn't like anybody else's time."

Nothing about Morgan is like anybody else on the Nationals. You can actually see the energy coming off him when he's at the plate and especially when he's on base. Talk to anybody about the Nats, and they'll mention how much fun he is to watch. It's an intangible, but that doesn't make it less real.

That's "just who I am as a person," Morgan says. "Full of energy, full of nothing but positive vibes. Just enjoy what I do."

Morgan is big on nicknames; Tony Plush is his own creation, to signify his on-field self. He's also begun bestowing monikers upon his teammates. For instance, Ryan Zimmerman is Peter Franchise. He should have time to rename the entire roster. As happy as the Nats are with him, he is happy with the Nats. He says he loves the Washington area and plans to remain here — he currently lives in Arlington — during the offseason.

He'll likely make some trips this winter to Verizon Center to watch some hockey. Asked if he'd like to skate with the Washington Capitals at some point, his eyes light up. He still follows the game, and the Penguins invited him to skate with them during his time in Pittsburgh. (Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, it's your move.)

So, Nyjer, who's the better player, Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby• He diplomatically says, "They're both good, two different players," then adds, "One's more exciting than the other."

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